. >> reporter: he owns this exotic compound in ohio says 24-year-old brent kandra, a caretaker at the just went wild on him, you know, and sam tried to get him off. >> reporter: desperate for help, his boss called 911. >> i need somebody here right [ bleep ] now, man. >> is the person breathing? >> barely. >> barely. >> he's -- >> reporter: kandra was severely mauled, taken to a hospital where he later died. so far, no charges have been filed against the owner who says it is now up to the victim's family whether the bear should be euthanized. he has run into problems before. in 2008, the u.s. department of agriculture stripped him of his federal license to show exotic animals. as for brent kandra, his mother paid tribute to him on his facebook page writing he was full of life, had a wonderful sense of humor, was caring and will be greatly missed by everyone who loves him. >> and joining us for an exclusive interview is brent kandra's father, john, in cleveland. good morning, john, we're sorry you have to be with us on these terms. >> good morning. >> so, let's talk about your son and

man who witnessed a 400-pound black bear suddenly attack his 24-year-old friend and employee, brent kandras a collapsed lung. that's my fear. they're coming. >> reporter: but it was too late. brent died the next morning at the hospital. the attack occurred in sam's backyard, where he owns several other bears and many exotic pets, calling it the world animal studios. brent, reportedly familiar with the bear, was helping sam feed the animal when the attack occurred. >> it's hitting us pretty hard. but we're doing okay. everybody's real sad over it because he was really a good kid. you know, we all loved him. >> going to miss him? >> yeah. we're going to miss him a lot. >> reporter: sam has made a name for himself, by wrestling his bears against humans. at events like this one in cleveland, in 2006. and neighbors have expressed concerns. >> i'm surprised it hadn't happened sooner. >> reporter: for "good morning america," meg oliver, abc news. >>> and joining me now from colombia station, ohio, is the bear's owner, sam mazzola. he's with one of his eight bears. not the one involved in this wee

>> reporter: the horror of what happened to brent kandra at this exotic animal sanctuary has his friendsily in total shock. >> it's pretty much like a bad dream. >> reporter: the 24-year-old young man was brutally mauled thursday evening by a 350-pound black bear named iroquois. >> something went wrong. he panicked and i panicked. >> reporter: when the bear let loose, the owner immediately called 911. >> bites on his body. >> i think he has a collapsed lung. that's my fear. >> sir, is he breathing right now? >> no! >> you just told me he was. >> now he's not! >> reporter: kandra was rushed to a cleveland medical center and died hours later. mazola says the exact details of the attack are too traumatic to account. what started as friendly play suddenly became very violent. >> probably the hardest thing i've ever been through in my life. >> reporter: brent kandra loved the bears, tigers and wolves at the sanctuary. they are all rescued or retired from the entertainment industry. >> he pretty much had an animal in his life all his life. >> reporter: the owner, mazzola, has come under fire f